Donors Honored at Mary Bird Perkins’ Leadership Dinner
D. Jensen Holliday Memorial Award Presented to Warren E. Buckley
Photo available for download. Captions available at end of release.
(Baton Rouge) – Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s 13th annual Leadership Dinner took place on April 17 at the Baton Rouge center. The Leadership Dinner is dedicated to the memory of Dr. and Mrs. M.J. Rathbone, Jr. Dr. Rathbone was one of the Center’s founders and the chairman of the board of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center from its inception until his death in 1998. Prior to the dinner, guests were given a tour of the Center’s newest radiation treatment technology and the Early Bird, the Center’s mobile medical clinic designed to take free cancer screenings into communities most in need within the Center’s 15-parish service area.
Welcoming remarks were made by Richard Lipsey, chairman, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Board of Directors. Lipsey told those in attendance that their gifts of more than $1.75 million in 2007 – representing 86% of total dollars raised -- not only helped fund the cancer support services, awareness and education, research and early detection programs of the Center but also helped provide radiation treatment for those who could not afford it.
Rev. Janet D. Hogstrom, chaplain of OLOL and wife of MBP’s Chief of Physics Kenneth Hogstrom, delivered the invocation.
Carolyn A. Chassee, CFRE, VP for Development and Chief Development Officer, thanked the southeast Louisiana Radiation Oncology Group (SLROG) – Dr. Robert Fields, Dr. Gregory Henkelmann, Dr. Sheldon Johnson, Dr. Maurice King, Dr. Renee Levine, Dr. Kenneth Lo, Dr. Mary Ella Sanders and Dr. Charles Wood – for underwriting the evening’s dinner. Dr. Wood told those assembled that aside from the world class technology at Mary Bird and the expertise of his partners, the support services able to be provided to patients due to community support are what really impress him. “The resources here are outstanding,” he said.
Donna Saurage, a member of MBP’s Board of Directors and the Center’s Development Committee, recognized the many donors and community volunteers who support the mission of Mary Bird Perkins.
Warren E. Buckley was honored as the recipient of the D. Jensen Holliday Memorial Award. The award is presented annually by the Mary Bird Perkins Board of Directors to honor the late Jensen Holiday who was chairman of the board at the time of his death from cancer. The award honors an individual in the communities served by Mary Bird Perkins who has made a sustained and significant difference in the fight against cancer. Beth Courtney, board member and chairman of the selection committee, introduced Mr. Buckley, a dedicated volunteer at Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge for almost 20 years. Not only has he helped deliver and maintain medical equipment for local cancer patients, but he has also helped the organization save money by repairing wheelchairs and beds and maintaining the lawn and flower beds. Presenting the award on behalf of Jensen’s widow Estelle, was Jensen and Estelle’s daughter Julie Crifasi.
Todd Stevens, president and CEO of Mary Bird Perkins, provided a “State of the Center” update he called Progress through Partnerships. He said Mary Bird Perkins itself is in partnership with the community. Citing major milestones accomplished during the past year, Stevens said, “We could not afford to do these things without you, our donors.”
A special video presentation featuring Mary Bird Perkins cancer survivor testimonials was shown. Immediately following, two of those survivors -- Marielle Land Howard and Sherrill Womack Lane – shared their patient perspectives and concluded the evening by thanking donors for making the work of Mary Bird Perkins possible.
Chef John Folse & White Oak Plantation catered the full-course meal. Chef Folse delighted everyone by appearing to describe the menu prior to the presentation of the meal.
The John Gray Trio provided entertainment during the reception and dinner.
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About Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center:
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has been fighting cancer for over 35 years. It is the only nonprofit cancer treatment, education and research facility in Louisiana providing state-of-the-art radiation therapy to all community residents regardless of ability to pay. Mary Bird Perkins has integrated cancer programs with Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center in Baton Rouge and St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington. These programs are accredited by the American College of Surgeons – the gold standard for community-based cancer care. The Center also enjoys a long-standing relationship with North Oaks Hospital in Hammond.
About the CARE Network:
The mission of the CARE Network (Cancer Support Services, Awareness and Education, Research and Early Detection) is to lessen the burden of cancer in the community. Established in 2002, it is funded by gifts from the community and provides hundreds of programs and services, including free cancer screenings, to thousands of people every year. The research and academic medical physics partnership with MBP and Louisiana State University is also funded in part by the CARE Network. The Center has locations in Baton Rouge, Covington and Hammond.
Photo 1 Caption
The D. Jensen Holliday Memorial Award was presented to Warren E. Buckley, a dedicated volunteer at Cancer Services of Baton Rouge for almost 20 years, by Julie Crifasi (left) who stood in for her mother Estelle Holliday. Mimi Riche' (right), nominated Mr. Buckley for the award.